BBF Private Access

Get closer to the people shaping the future of beauty.

Black Beauty Founders Private Access is an application-only ecosystem connecting ambitious Black beauty founders with the executives, founders, retailers, investors, media, and strategic partners who help businesses grow.

This isn’t another group to join. It’s where real relationships, industry visibility, and new opportunities begin.

The First Round  ·  100 Seats
The Next Round Opens In 2027 Apply for Private Access → Every application is read personally. Not every founder is selected.
First-round selections are made the week of September 15.
100 Seats This Round
$147 Per Month
2,000+ Founders In The Ecosystem
Tisha Thompson, founder of LYS Beauty, BBF Cover Vol. 3

Tisha Thompson  ·  LYS Beauty  ·  BBF Cover Vol. 3

The Middle

You are further along than people know, and still doing it alone.

The product works. The customers come back. And there is no one to ask the next question.

  • Why editors never write back.
  • What a commerce editor needs before your product makes a story.
  • How live shopping actually converts.
  • How to find affiliates who really sell.
  • Which grants pay real money.
  • How to get a private banker to take the call.

None of it is a secret. It is held by people you have not met. That is what this room is for.

You do not have to do this alone.

Shontay Lundy, Founder of Black Girl Sunscreen, as told to Black Beauty Founders

Shontay Lundy  ·  Black Girl SunscreenAs Told to Black Beauty Founders

The Access Problem

Most founders don’t have a product problem.
They have an access problem.

Behind nearly every breakthrough is a relationship that opened a door.

Forbes · August 2026

Forbes came to us.

In August 2026, Forbes profiled Black Beauty Founders and the pipeline we are building between founders and decision-makers.

By Jasmine Browley · Forbes · August 2026

Read the Forbes feature →
Black Beauty Founders featured in Forbes, August 2026

From ESSENCE to Forbes, GLAMOUR, EBONY, Yahoo! Life, TODAY, and beyond.

Forbes media featureForbesFounder profile
GLAMOUR media featureGLAMOURBlack Beauty Founders
EBONY media featureEBONYReshaping the industry
Yahoo! Life media featureYahoo! LifeBeauty expertise
TODAY media featureTODAYNational television
ELLE Australia media featureELLE AustraliaA voice shaping Black beauty
EBONY media featureEBONYBeauty powerhouse collectives
Beauty Independent media featureBeauty IndependentIndustry perspective
Forbes media featureForbesFounder profile
GLAMOUR media featureGLAMOURBlack Beauty Founders
EBONY media featureEBONYReshaping the industry
Yahoo! Life media featureYahoo! LifeBeauty expertise
TODAY media featureTODAYNational television
ELLE Australia media featureELLE AustraliaA voice shaping Black beauty
EBONY media featureEBONYBeauty powerhouse collectives
Beauty Independent media featureBeauty IndependentIndustry perspective
The Caliber of Conversation

Gain direct access to people shaping beauty.

Through webinars, fireside chats, and private invitation-only curated events, members hear directly from executives, journalists, commerce leaders, casting professionals, retailers, and accomplished founders.

Ulta Beauty, Sephora, Essence, Glamour, NielsenIQ, Beauty Independent, Amazon, TikTok, Whatnot, GMA Deals & Steals, Citi, Condor Equity
The Forbes Record

Black Beauty Founders Created These Forbes Opportunities

Black Beauty Founders developed the strategy, shaped the narratives, pitched the founders, and secured these editorial opportunities. The result was national visibility for Janell Stephens, Monique Rodriguez, Mahisha Dellinger, Jesseca Harris-Dupart, Robyn Atwater, Raynell “Supa Cent” Steward, and others.

Janell Stephens in ForbesJanell StephensCamille Rose
Monique Rodriguez in ForbesMonique RodriguezMielle Organics
Mahisha Dellinger in ForbesMahisha DellingerCurls
Jesseca Harris-Dupart in ForbesJesseca Harris-DupartKaleidoscope Hair
Robyn Atwater in ForbesRobyn AtwaterCurl Daze
Raynell Steward in ForbesRaynell StewardThe Crayon Case
Janell Stephens in ForbesJanell StephensCamille Rose
Monique Rodriguez in ForbesMonique RodriguezMielle Organics
Mahisha Dellinger in ForbesMahisha DellingerCurls
Jesseca Harris-Dupart in ForbesJesseca Harris-DupartKaleidoscope Hair
Robyn Atwater in ForbesRobyn AtwaterCurl Daze
Raynell Steward in ForbesRaynell StewardThe Crayon Case
The Cover Series

The Business Behind Beauty

Every month, BBF puts a founder on the cover and tells the business story behind the brand. Black Beauty Founders is a media platform as well as an ecosystem, and members sit closest to it, to its editors, and to the relationships behind it.

Cynthia Bailey, BBF Cover Vol. 1 Cynthia BaileyVol. 1 · Dec 2025
Shaina Rainford, BBF Cover Vol. 2 Shaina RainfordVol. 2 · Jan 2026
Tisha Thompson, BBF Cover Vol. 3 Tisha ThompsonVol. 3 · Feb 2026
Shontay Lundy, BBF Cover Vol. 4 Shontay LundyVol. 4 · Mar 2026
Stormi Steele, BBF Cover Vol. 5 Stormi SteeleVol. 5 · Apr 2026
Tia Mowry, BBF Cover Vol. 6 Tia MowryVol. 6 · May 2026
Everything Included

What Private Access Unlocks

Private Access is designed to help founders build the relationships, visibility, and industry knowledge needed to grow with confidence.

Executive Access

Gain direct access to founders, Fortune 500 executives, retailers, investors, journalists, and industry leaders through exclusive member experiences.

Strategic Relationships

Build meaningful connections that can lead to introductions, partnerships, collaborations, and long-term business growth.

Visibility

Increase your brand’s exposure through editorial opportunities, founder features, speaking opportunities, and one of the largest platforms dedicated to Black beauty founders.

Industry Intelligence

Stay informed with executive conversations, emerging trends, consumer insights, and member-only programming designed to help you make smarter business decisions.

Programming Includes

Media, Visibility & Influence

  • Commerce editor strategy
  • Podcast pitch strategy
  • Television booking conversations
  • Panel and speaking opportunity strategy
  • Editorial positioning and thought leadership

Beauty Business Growth

  • BBF Beauty Growth Academy
  • Retail readiness and go-to-market strategy
  • Pricing, profitability, and launch planning
  • Monthly Founder Office Hours
  • Executive fireside chats and roundtables
Apply for Private Access The first round of 100 · The next round opens in 2027
Olivia Hancock, Senior Beauty Editor, Byrdie · Founder, The Hue Report
Olivia Hancock Senior Beauty Editor, Byrdie · Founder, The Hue Report AS TOLD EXCLUSIVELY TO BLACK BEAUTY FOUNDERS
Jasmine Browley, Beauty Journalist, Forbes
Jasmine Browley Beauty Journalist, Forbes AS TOLD EXCLUSIVELY TO BLACK BEAUTY FOUNDERS
Tisha Thompson, Founder, LYS Beauty
Tisha Thompson Founder, LYS Beauty AS TOLD EXCLUSIVELY TO BLACK BEAUTY FOUNDERS
Industry Authority

Beauty Independent called on Black Beauty Founders for perspective on Henkel’s $1.4 billion acquisition of Olaplex.

The feature reflects the level of industry perspective that informs BBF Private Access.

Danika Berry quoted in Beauty Independent Read the full article in Beauty Independent →

That same perspective now supports founders through executive conversations, strategic resources, media intelligence, and beauty-specific guidance.

Private Access Is Designed For

Founders serious about building enduring beauty brands.

BBF Private Access is designed for ambitious Black beauty founders in growth mode who value strategy, context, and meaningful industry relationships.

“Danika Berry is building a collective that centers Black women with cultural power and economic impact.”
EBONY Magazine
Investment

One seat.
Everything included.

Founders routinely spend thousands on conferences, consultants, and advisors. Private Access brings that level of industry context, executive conversation, and strategic guidance together for $147 per month.

$147 per month · cancel anytime · no long-term commitment Apply for Private Access →

Application required. This is the first round of 100 seats, and the next round does not open until 2027. Applications are being read now, and first-round selections are made the week of September 15. Selected founders receive an invitation to complete enrollment.

Your Questions, Answered

Everything you need to know.

Who is Private Access designed for?

Private Access is designed for ambitious Black beauty founders who are serious about growing their business through relationships, education, visibility, and strategic opportunities. Whether you’re preparing for retail, growing direct-to-consumer sales, raising capital, or opening new doors, this ecosystem was built with you in mind.

How is this different from a course or program?

This is not a course or a generic online group. It is an ongoing private industry ecosystem with live conversations, strategic resources, founder office hours, and beauty-specific intelligence.

How does the application work?

This is the first round of 100 seats. Applications are being read now, and first-round selections are made the week of September 15. Selected founders receive an invitation to complete enrollment and join right away. The next round does not open until 2027.

Why only 100 seats?

Private Access is capped at 100 seats so programming stays focused and every member is actually known in the room. Once the first round is filled, the next one does not open until 2027.

Can I cancel?

Yes. BBF Private Access is month-to-month. You can cancel at any time. If you do, your seat will be offered to the next founder on the waitlist. Once filled, re-entry is not guaranteed.

A Letter From Our Founder

Danika Berry

When I created Black Beauty Founders, I wasn’t trying to build another membership. I wanted to create the kind of access I wished existed when I began my own journey in beauty.

After more than two decades in public relations and brand strategy, I watched how often opportunity comes down to one conversation or one introduction. The biggest moments in my career didn’t happen because I knew everything. They happened because I knew the right people.

Private Access was built so more founders get that. Not a room of members. A room of relationships that make businesses stronger.

If that sounds like the kind of room you’ve been looking for, I’d love to welcome you.

Danika Berry

Founder, Black Beauty Founders

Industry Record
20+Years in Beauty
2,000+Founders Connected
200K+Consumer Reach
NationalMedia Recognition

FORBES
ESSENCE
GLAMOUR
ELLE
EBONY
BEAUTY INDEPENDENT
BLACK ENTERPRISE
& MORE

Not every application is accepted.

Applying does not mean you are in. Every application is read, and seats go to founders who are ready to show up and participate.

If you’re ready to build meaningful relationships, gain industry access, and grow alongside founders and executives shaping the future of beauty…

Apply for Private Access → Application only · 100 seatsThe next round opens in 2027

The first round is 100 seats.
The next round is 2027.

When these 100 seats are filled, the room closes. If a member leaves, that seat is offered to the next founder in line, and re-entry is not guaranteed.

Apply for Private Access →